International Counter-Terrorism
The Australian Government is cooperating closely with key partners, particularly in South-East Asia, to bring terrorists to justice and to prevent further terrorist attacks. Australia’s substantial international counter-terrorism efforts, which include capacity building assistance and information sharing, are focused on law enforcement, intelligence, border and transport security, diplomacy, defence, terrorist financing, legal capacity, countering the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, and promoting inter-faith understanding.
Key elements of Australia’s international counter-terrorism efforts include:
- Bilateral engagement, particularly in South-East Asia and through our 14 counter-terrorism memorandum of understandings with Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Bangladesh.
- Multilateral engagement in forums such as the UN, ASEAN, ARF, APEC, PIF and CTAG, as well as in issue-specific groups such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
- Initiatives such as the Bali Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism (February 2004) and the Sub-Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism (March 2007)
- Cooperation and coordination with other key partners and capacity building donors, such as the US, UK, Japan and the EU
- Enhanced engagement with Australian academia and the private sector.
The Department’s Counter-Terrorism Role
- Ensure a comprehensive and integrated policy approach to combatting terrorism internationally and in facilitating cooperation between Australian agencies and their counterparts in other countries on counter-terrorism issues
- Support and coordinate the international counter-terrorism capacity building initiatives of Australian agencies, including through management of the inter-departmental International Counter-Terrorism Coordination Group
- Monitor and respond as appropriate to international terrorism developments
- Coordinate and promote activities to counter the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism
- Engage in international interfaith outreach activities
- Administer legislative arrangements for freezing terrorists’ assets
- Advise Australians resident and travelling overseas and Australian businesses about terrorism-related security threats
- Ensure the security and integrity of Australia’s passport issuing system
- Ensure the security of Australian embassies and consulates abroad
- Liaise with foreign diplomats and consular missions in Australia, and with relevant Australian agencies, with respect to the protection of those missions and other premises and visiting foreign dignitaries.
Dealings with Terrorists – Australia's international obligations
What Australians and Australian businesses need to know
To meet Australia's international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373 to freeze the assets of terrorists, the Government has passed laws that make it a criminal offence to hold assets that are owned or controlled by terrorist organisations or individuals, or to make assets available to them, punishable by up to five years imprisonment. DFAT maintains a Consolidated List of individuals and groups to which this terrorist asset freezing regime is applications. Currently there are over 540 individuals and groups listed.
More information on Australia's terrorist asset freezing regime.
DFAT maintains close contacts with Australia's financial sector to ensure asset freezing arrangements take account of the sector's legitimate interests. Australian businesses, in particular exporters, should also be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that they do not do businesses with an individual or groups listed on the Consolidated List.
In addition to the Consolidated List, the Australian Government also maintains a list of groups that are proscribed as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code. Go to the National Security Australia website to view the Criminal Code list of 'terrorist organisations'. If a group is listed as a 'terrorist organisation' it is an offence to:
- direct the activities of the organisation
- recruit persons to the organisation
- receive training from or provide training to the organisation
- receive funds from or make available funds to the organisation
- provide support or resources to the organisation
Links
Other Australian Government Departments
- National Security Hotline (1800 123 400)
- Attorney-General’s Department
- Australian Customs Service
- Australian Federal Police (AFP)
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
- Australian Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
- Department of Defence
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)
- Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS)
- Protective Security Coordination Centre (PSCC)
External Sites
- UN Action Against Terrorism
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum Counter-Terrorism Task Force
- Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Transnational Crime and International Terrorism
- ASEAN Regional Forum Documents
- Building International Political Will and Capacity to Combat Terrorism - G8 Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG)
- Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
- Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering
- Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering